Page 83 of What If I See You

I take another sip of my beer listening to this play out, having no idea how Layken is going to respond.

Her brows arch. “Oh. You likemyass?”

The guy nods. “It’s a beautiful ass.”

She brings a hand to his cheek and smiles kindly. “Aww. That’s so sweet of you. Thank you. I keep poop in there.”

August, Bodhi, and I nearly choke on our drinks, mine dribbling down my chin hearing Layken’s response. Corrigan and Ella look on in shock.

Oh shit!

She did not just say that!

Layken lifts her glass and tells him, “And I already have a drink, but thanks for offering. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to join my husband,” she says, enunciating the word clearly. She winks at the guy. “He likes my ass too and he gets to enjoy it any time he wants.”

Any other time I would be hanging on her every word about the things I could do to that perfect little ass she has, but this time, her words hit me differently. This time hundreds of emotions swirl inside my brain in response to two simple words.

My husband.

I’d like to join my husband.

She said husband.

She didn’t say her friends.

She said husband.

As if we’ve been together for years.

It just rolled right off her tongue.

She claimed me.

She chose me.

The guy pivots and makes eye contact with me, his face turning a deep shade of red when he sees me standing so close. I lift my chin to acknowledge first that I know what he just did to my wife, and second, that I just watched her put him in his goddamn place all by herself.

My wife is fucking badass and I’m literally swooning over her right now.

He doesn’t say a word, but admits defeat and nods respectively, his hands rising in defense before he retreats back to his seat.

When he walks away, Layken steps over to me rolling her eyes and chuckling at what just transpired. “Well, that was something, huh?”

Corrigan laughs and tells her, “Told you your ass looked amazing in those leggings.”

Everyone gives her well-deserved kudos, but all I can do is stare at her, expressionless.

My chest is tight and my pulse is racing and I’m finding it hard to swallow. All I can think about right now is what it would feel like to kiss her right here, right now.

I’d like to join my husband.

The urge to claim her hits me like a freight train and it’s taking every ounce of my self-control not to kiss the hell out of her in the middle of this bar in front of everyone.

She takes a sip of her martini and then winks at me before realizing I’m not smiling.

Bringing a hand to my chest, her grin fades and her eyes widen.

“Hey, you okay?” When I don’t answer, because I can’t think of the appropriate words in my head, she goes on. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know he was…” She cocks her head, worried. “Oh, my God, did I say something wrong?”

---